Neath 25-25 Bedwas UNFASHIONABLE and unfancied Bedwas put in their best display of the season at the Gnoll, more than deservedly sharing the spoils with high-flying Neath.

Despite fielding two flankers - Phil Wheeler and Owen Ankers - in the second row, Bedwas took on the much-vaunted home pack with huge gusto and it was the All Blacks who were relieved to hear the final whistle at the end of their most disappointing performance of the season.

Behind the scrum, too, Bedwas looked the more direct and confident.

Fly-half Paul Williams controlled things cleverly and only narrowly missed the late conversion that would have given his side a famous win on their first ever visit to the Gnoll.

"We will have to improve 100 per cent if we are to give Newport a game next week," said Neath coach Rowland Phillips.

"Take nothing away from Bedwas, they were the more committed and the more pragmatic while we were disgraceful in our ball retention, choice of options and general urgency.

"We can see a lot of changes in the side to face the Black and Ambers next week."

Bedwas coaches Steve Law and Ian Gardner were delighted at the way the game had gone and even bold enough to suggest that they should have won.

"It's two points dropped rather than a point gained," said Law, who along with Gardner, is confident that Bedwas will continue to shake other teams just as fancied as Neath.

Bedwas shook Neath from the start with a 12th-minute try made by a clever chip from Williams and scored by man-of-the-match captain and No 8 Deri Mattravers.

With the Williams conversion and a penalty, the visitors were 10-0 up and Neath looked shaky in all areas.

They did manage tries by wing Gareth John and flanker John McPhail but they were generally devoid of decision and rhythm.

Fly-half Matthew Jones kicked two penalties to add to his two conversions to make it 20-10 before Bedwas clawed back to 20-15 after Williams sent Mattravers in for his second try.

Wing Richard Johnston did get a well-taken try after rare Neath continuity before Bedwas's grandstand finish.

Full-back Nathan Gittins kicked a massive penalty before Williams yet again made a try for wing Stefan Sankala.